A Masked World

Dear Diary,

What has happened to your pages? Blank pages…..blank sheets stare at me ……white pages my pen still full of ink…. With nothing to say.

My calendar has no plans my phone has failed to tell me it is time to go. No story-time lunches with friends and where are they?

And what has happened to the school bus? The dependable yellow hulk has vanished and so have the kids that used to huddle on the corner.

Neighbors I don’t recognize behind their masks vanish into houses that sit with empty stares and closed doors. It feels like my world has lost itself and settled on a dead end street. My family can’t find me and it is Thanksgiving. Loneliness drives around looking for us all.

Am I dreaming? Has the world stopped? The color of my life is washed out ….missing……..gray I’m often out of breath behind my mask.

My world is gone …….and I miss it…..and sometimes cry for it I am sad in the new world called COVID …a small world reflected on a screen half-faces in pixels……..no more kisses. It feels like my heart has been ripped in two and I can’t find the other half in the gloom.

But there’s a light in the living room and there God sits on the sofa holding my heart. We hug and hold hands and my heart beats in fullness. We speak our stories with wide-open faces.

I am filled by this Holy Encounter and Peace changes places with loneliness The world out there is still masked but the world of my heart is whole and open for business

I close now, Dear Diary, knowing my true world is still here and always will be.

Linda Binder – 12/12/20

Poem written by Royal Lane Member Linda Binder and shared at Mourning Light, December 16, 2020.

October 2, 2012 The Mosaic Volume 27 Issue 18

Be Not AfraidAdvent – 2020

It feels as if 2020 has been a year filled with fear. Yet, messengers throughout the Bible sought to comfort the people of God by telling them to not be afraid. It was a word that those looking for a Messiah and birthing Divine Love needed to hear. And we need to hear it too. The theme for this Advent Season at Royal Lane is “Be Not Afraid.” Maybe God is telling us this year, as we wait with trepidation and anticipation, to offer up our fears to the divine and to hear God’s comfort in the angel voices: “Do not be afraid.”

December 20 – Advent IV – Worship – 11:00 am — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel “The Fear of Ruined Reputation” This morning we are joined by the Classic Brass Quintet as we sing carols of the season.

December 22 – Advent Afternoon – 4:00 pm — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel With Jonathan Gregoire

December 24 – Christmas Eve – 6:00 pm — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel “The Fear of Change” The service this year will feature choral music from the virtual combined choirs of Royal Lane and University Park UMC as they present the first movement of the GLORIA by Vivaldi, and lovely settings of Away in a Manger and Silent Night. Soloists and readers from RLBC will also lead us in worship. The Gregg Family with baby Ford will light our Christ Candle.

Advent Afternoons

Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel

Each Tuesday afternoon of Advent at 4:00 pm we will present organist Jonathan Gregoire playing a brief mini concert on our Royal Lane, Dan Garland pipe organ, Opus 50. Jonathan will feature Advent music and speak about the pieces and their connection to our Advent season.

J O N A T H A N M. G R E G O I R E jg@jonathangregoire.com | www.jonathangregoire.com

Praised for his “top-notch technique and musicianship” by the Dallas Morning News, Jonathan M. Gregoire is an imaginative keyboardist and advocate for the power music has to transform lives. Gregoire brings his passion for music, intuitive gifts for the healing powers of the arts, and warm charisma to his creative output. As a soloist, his engaging performances are praised for their “unfailing drive, energy, and expression,” with equal parts style and flair. As a collaborative artist, his elegance and facility at both the piano and the organ are further augmented by his sensitivity and innate ability to support and lead from the keyboard. He supports congregational and choral singing as the organist at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas. As an educator, Gregoire is driven by the belief that through education we promote understanding, and with understanding we can foster appreciation. With this belief, he founded and serves as the Executive Director of the Arts Foundation of St. Andrew, which is dedicated to “enriching spirituality through the power of the arts.” Additionally, he is the faculty accompanist for the Greenhill School in Addison and Plano West Senior High School, nurturing a love for music in the lives of the students and choirs he supports. For additional information, including recordings, please visit: jonathangregoire.com

The next issues of The Mosaic are scheduled for January 6 & 20, 2021. The deadline for submissions will be 5:00 p.m. Monday prior to the date of publication.

Coming Events

Friday December 18 12:00 pm Midday Meditative Prayer — Zoom 6:30 pm SJT Candlelight Prayer Walk — Church Grounds Saturday December 18 2:00 pm Questers Class — Zoom 3:00 pm 3rd-5th Grade Saturday School — Zoom 8:00 pm Non-Traditional Class — Zoom Sunday December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:45 am Foundation Stones — Zoom 10:00 am 4-6 Year Old Sunday School — Zoom 10:00 am Women’s Share & Prayer — Zoom 11:00 am Morning Worship — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel 12:00 pm Youth Sunday School Class — Zoom 3:00 pm 1st-2nd Grade Sunday School — Zoom 4:00 pm Formations Class — Zoom Tuesday December 22 4:00 pm Advent Afternoons — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel Wednesday December 23 No Wednesday Activities Thursday December 24 – Christmas Eve 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Service — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel Friday December 25 – Christmas Day Sunday December 27 – First Sunday after Christmas 11:00 am Morning Worship — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel Wednesday December 30 No Wednesday Activities Friday January 1 – New Year’s Day Saturday January 2 2:00 pm Questers Class — Zoom 3:00 pm 3rd-5th Grade Saturday School — Zoom 8:00 pm Non-Traditional Class — Zoom Sunday January 3 – Epiphany Sunday 9:45 am Foundation Stones — Zoom 10:00 am 4-6 Year Old Sunday School — Zoom 10:00 am Women’s Share & Prayer — Zoom 11:00 am Morning Worship — Royal Lane Baptist Church YouTube Channel 12:00 pm Youth Sunday School Class — Zoom 3:00 pm 1st-2nd Grade Sunday School — Zoom 4:00 pm Formations Class — Zoom 7:00 pm Connections Care Group — Zoom Wednesday January 6 – Mosaic No Wednesday Activities Friday January 8 12:00 pm Midday Meditative Prayer — Zoom Saturday January 9 2:00 pm Questers Class — Zoom 3:00 pm 3rd-5th Grade Saturday School — Zoom 8:00 pm Non-Traditional Class — Zoom

The deadline for the order of service, the Midweek, and the Mosaic is Monday, 5:00 p.m. prior to publication.

“Like” RLBC on Facebook or “Follow” RLBC on Twitter

Pledges for 2021 are still coming in. Have we received yours? Pledge Online at royallane.org/give or contact Janet Schultz for assistance.

Staff Love Gift Deadline Extended to December 18

During this Giving time of year let us not forget those who give so much to us all year. Our church staff willingly and lovingly provides many services for us throughout the year. As in the past, if you would like to express your personal appreciation, please mail your check to the Church Office or make your donation online by December 18. Be sure your contribution is clearly marked “Staff Love Gift” or select the fund “Staff Love Gift" from the Give option on the Royal Lane website. Charlotte Sewell, Deacon Chair

Social Justice Team Candlelight Prayer Walk

Friday, December 18 – 6:30 pm

You are invited to participate in the Social Justice Team Candlelight Prayer Walk.

Consider attending as a Sunday School Class or Care Group. Invite your friends and neighbors. Seating available for those with limited mobility.

Pastor’s Book Group Resumes – January 12, 2021

Our next book is “Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World” by Serene Jones.

About the Author Serene Jones is the president of the historic Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. The first woman to head the 180-year-old institution, Jones occupies the Johnston Family Chair for Religion and Democracy. She is the past president of the American Academy of Religion. Jones came to Union after seventeen years at Yale University, where she was the Titus Street Professor of Theology at the Divinity School, and chair of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale University. Jones is the author of several books including Trauma and Grace. She is a child of the Oklahoma plains, a daughter of a university president and a single mother, a sister, a cancer survivor, a theologian, a minister, a news commentator, a public intellectual, and a devoted teacher. Contact Pastor Mike if you would like to participate in this group at mgregg@royallane.org

Christmas Eve Missions Offering

We are beginning our Christmas Eve Missions Offering early this year! Please join us in giving to two very important organizations who are meeting the most basic needs of our beloved community this Christmas season. We will divide any missions offerings evenly between Hope Supply and North Dallas Shared Ministries. You can read more about these wonderful organizations below. To give to the Christmas Eve Missions Offering, choose this fund in the dropdown menu

under “Give” on the RLBC website, or mail or drop off a check with “Christmas Eve Missions Offering” written in the memo

section.

Hope Supply Co.

Hope Supply meets the critical needs of homeless and at-risk children across North Texas by providing necessities including diapers, clothing, school supplies and toys. to enhance their lives. They provide diapers and other essentials to social service organizations, including homeless shelters, transitional living centers, school districts and state agencies. We currently have a network of 70+ partner agencies, ensuring that our items are given directly to the families and children that need them the most. Right now, they have seen requests for their help increase by almost 300%.

North Dallas Shared Ministries

NDSM is an interfaith community of volunteers, partners and collaborators providing charitable assistance to persons in need. NDSM is one of the Missions to which we regularly give, but they are seeing higher than average need from their clients right now. According to Judy Rorrie, the Executive Director of North Dallas Shared Ministries, requests for food and financial assistance has increased sharply. Since April 27, a very small group of NDSM volunteers has reviewed 1,864 applications for financial assistance; to date in just under seven months, 644 Covid-19 related households have received $480,643 in rent and/or utility assistance. The expectation is that the need for life-sustaining basic services will increase significantly as we begin the new year.

Christmas Greetings from Your Staff Mike Gregg

Harry Wooten Laura Keller

Janet Schultz Barbara Merry David Weigle

Rosa Barrientos

Thank you To Royal Lane Baptist Church Women’s Group for donating 100 filled stockings to our Pediatric Health Center! These generous gifts will touch many children and families during this holiday season. Healing Hands Ministries

October 2020 Financials YTD Actual Revenues $624,102 Expenses $624,736 Surplus (Deficit) ($634)

Text “GIVE” to 214-609-1200 Follow the prompts to complete the process.

Standard text message rates may apply.

Donate online at royallane.org/give/

Giving menu includes: General Fund Staff Love Gift

Christmas Eve Missions Offering Columbarium

The Lowe Scholarship Fund Other

Optional Memo Line available.

Deacons of the Week

December 13 Melissa Orwig

Blake Miller

December 20 Sarah Fuller Phillips

Karen Simmons

December 27 Mike Keith

Margaret Darden

Happy Birthday! December

Jordan Simmons .................................................. 16

Kate Thompson ................................................... 16

Chris Cechan ....................................................... 17

Clint Cechan ........................................................ 17

Nolan Meier ......................................................... 30

Harold Harrison ................................................... 21

Michael Carter ..................................................... 24

James Robinson ................................................... 27

Lindsey Washington ............................................ 27

JJ Berrier.............................................................. 28

Amanda Gregg .................................................... 28

January Anthony Hatcher ................................................... 2

Matt Orwig ............................................................ 2

Lou Ray ................................................................. 2

Dottie Brashear ...................................................... 4

William Henault .................................................... 4

Emma Watson ....................................................... 4

Scriptures of the Week

December 13 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 20 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:4b-55 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38

December 27 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 148 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40

To change mail or email preferences for The Mosaic, contact Barbara Merry, 214-361-2809, ext. 10 or bmerry@royallane.org.

All In-Person Midweek Services

&

Fellowship Meals Temporarily Suspended

6:30 p.m. Wednesday December 16

Mourning Light

Wednesdays December 23 &30

No Wednesday Activities

Have a Blessed Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

The Box Gallery is Temporarily Closed

Royal Lane Baptist Church

6707 Royal Lane Dallas, Texas 75230-4145

The Mosaic is published twice a month Royal Lane Baptist Church

6707 Royal Lane Office Hours: Dallas, TX 75230-4145 Monday - Friday: Open by Appointment Wednesday Midweek: 6:30 pm - Zoom Office: [214] 361-2809 Sunday School: Saturday & Sunday - Zoom Fax: [214] 361-2988 Sunday Worship: 11:00 am – Royal Lane YouTube Channel www.royallane.org

Rosa Barrientos, Housekeeping Janet Schultz, Administrative Assistant Michael Gregg, Pastor Blake Vickrey, Sound Technician Laura Keller, Minister to Children David Weigle, Organist Barbara Merry, Administrative Assistant Harry Wooten, Minister of Music and Worship